The Cubs are activating right-hander Edward Cabrera off the 15-day injured list, per the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan. Cabrera will start today’s game against the Cardinals. In a corresponding active roster move, Chicago optioned swingman Javier Assad to Triple-A Iowa.
Cabrera had been on the IL since June 24th due to a left hamstring strain. He returns after nearly an eight-week absence having made three rehab appearances in the upper minors. The righty struck out 11 over a combined 5 2/3 innings at Triple-A on July 31st and August 5th. He followed that with seven strikeouts in five scoreless innings for Double-A Knoxville on August 11th, setting him up to return to the Majors on normal rest today.
Between this absence and a previous minimum stint for a right middle finger blister, Cabrera has thrown 72 1/3 innings over 14 starts in his first season with the Cubs. The results have been underwhelming, to say the least. After posting a 3.53 ERA for the Marlins last year, Cabrera is up to a 5.10 mark in 2026. His strikeout and walk rates have both trended in the wrong direction and now grade out below average. Concerningly, he’s also surrendered 14 home runs after allowing 17 in over 65 more innings in 2025. The righty’s chase rate and ground ball percentage still grade out favorably, but not much else has been working for him this year.
It’s not what the Cubs had in mind when they sent a three-prospect package to the Marlins for Cabrera back in January. With the team in the middle of a playoff race and holding the top NL Wild Card spot, they will hope he can right the ship now that he’s healthy. Compared to the offense, which features an MVP contender in Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago’s rotation has been a weak spot this year. The group has combined for just 3.9 fWAR, which ranks fourth-worst in the Majors. Their 20.1% strikeout rate and 1.62 HR/9 rank 24th and 29th, respectively, while their 4.29 ERA is middle-of-the-pack.
More to come.
